MCREA

September, 2012

    Hello summer survivors.  I hope you were able to get away from our sauna-like weather for at least a short trip to cooler places.  Although, I think I should stop complaining since many of those areas were pretty darn hot this summer as well.  It used to be when we would escape to Northern Maine we could expect only a few days of 80 and above weather.  This year they had many more.  It is important to remember that when it gets hot up there, in most cases, there is no air conditioner to turn on, and the windows, at least in Maine, are super small to hold in the heat in the winter.  

   

    The Georgia peaches were juicier and sweeter this summer.  I heard a grower lamenting the drought but saying his crop, although smaller, was much tastier. Regardless of whether you believe in global warming or not, something is happening to alter the climate.  I will not mention the "h" word for extreme storms that we have dodged so far.  I think the weather predictors and the media in general have done all they can to jinx us on that. Lucky for us, they hexed Louisiana instead.

    Now the important stuff.  Our New Member Reception will  take place on Thursday, Sept. 6 (this week!) at the Central Branch Library in Bradenton, at 10 a.m.  If you know someone who is a retired educator( any retired employee of the county schools or another school system, college, private or parochial school) please encourage him or her to attend. You can come along too to support a new member.  We will have refreshments featuring Judy Shostrom's punch, a real treat, information about MCREA, and conversation.

    Our first meeting will be at Renaissance on 9th, at 11:30 a.m, on September 20.  Our first meeting will give you an opportunity to get caught up with everyone's adventures and an overview of the coming year.  The Board is planning a 50th Birthday Celebration of MCREA to be held November.  Lunch is $15.  Wear your name tag.  The following are the meeting dates for 2011-12. Please note the Oct. and Nov. meetings are on Wednesday.

Sept 20

Wednesday, Oct. 17

Wednesday, Nov. 14

 Dec. 20

 Jan. 17

 Feb. 21

  March 21

April 18

May 16

    Our donations to FELT (Feeding Empty Little Tummies) will continue each month.  Remember children's books and foods that can be used to stuff the Friday backpacks of children who need the nourishment for the weekend are our contribution.  I read that 50 percent of Americans now are below the poverty line and that 75 percent of those receiving aid have children.  Those grim statistics tell us how important it is to pitch in and help.

    This summer, we have all been reading about the empty shelves at the community food bank.  I didn't realize that the food banks at most churches and in the community in general are partially or entirely supplied with food from the community food bank.  The MCREA Board is requesting that we bring a dry food stuff and a can of food to our meetings.  Of course, if this would be a hardship for you, please feel free to abstain from any of our collections.

    I am looking forward to our first meeting.  I hope you will be able too.  As usual, at the beginning of the year, there may be some glitches in our calling procedure, so if you are not called before Sunday, Sept. 16, please call Mary Ann Jensen at 756-7603 or Deborah Thomas at 752-6895.

    See you soon,

    Ellen

      

   Here is our scholarship recipient, Jacob Kargauer, at FSU.

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